Indexing device for wheel-machines.



G. BORG.

INDBXING DEVICE FOR WHEEL MACHINES.

AIPLIOATION IILED NOV. 6, 1907.

Patented May 11, 1909.

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INDEXING DEVICE FOR WHEEL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 6 0w OM 9 1 {R w 18 1 Va n M 5 as W n .w a P jwfiw Chrds 5059- C. a n m O m W 0 c m m m a N u r G. BORG. INDEXING DEVIGE FOB- WHEEL MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1907.

921,071. 7 Patented May 11, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1n: NORRIS PETERS ca, wnsnma'ro". 0.1,

, Chms 301g- CHRIS BORG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1 1, 1909.

Application filed November 6, 1907. Serial No. 401,029.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHRIS Bone, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new chines, of which the following is a complete specification. p

This invention relates to means for rotating the wheel member support to proper position as the spokes are successively secured in place, and its application is made to a machine for manufacturing metal wheels, the machine being of the type shown in Patent No. 807,589, which issued to me December 19, 1905. i

The object in View is to provide a simple and effective device, automatic in its operation, for turning the wheel member support to a position in which the spoke receiving apertures of the hub and rim will be caused to register with the position of the s oke when in the stationary spoke gripping JlWS,

Another feature of the improvementthe reversible and double acting featureconsists in the novel construction which will enable it to move the wheel member support in either direction, and to make the movement of its plunger effective in both its forward and return stroke.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a plan of the wheel supporting endof the table of awheel machine of the type before mentioned andin connection with which my improvement is shown. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of the principal parts of a wheel machine and indexingdevice attached thereto, and is designed to illustrate the construction and operation of the valve controlling mechanism for the in-' dexing device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail plan of the reciprocating racks on which are mounted the ring actuatlng dogs. Flg.

5 represents a side elevation of the parts.

F1g.6 1s anshown in the preceding figure. elevation of that end of the wheel machine on which the indexing device is mounted, and is designed to illustrate the manner of efiecting the bodily adjustment of said device. Fig. 7 is a detail elevation of the lower reciprocating rack, the view showing the side adjacent to the tire ring'of the wheel member support. Fig. 8 represents a transand. useful Improve-- ment in an Indexing Device for Whe elMaworse section of the two racks, the view be ing taken as indicated by the line 8-8 in Fig. .t; and Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, are details of the actuating dog and two modified f forms thereof.

In the drawings A designates the tableor bed-plate of a wheel machine of the type the rearward and above cited, A and A forward pedestals, respectively, on which said bed-plateis mounted, B the jaws of the relatively stationary spoke fastening devices operating inside the wheel rim, B the upsetting head of the spoke fastening devices operating outside the rim, and B the upsetting head operating inside the hub. The spoke fastening devices are mounted independently of the bed-plate A and hence are stationary relative thereto. The end of the bed-plate A 'is supported upon the rearward pedestal A through the shaft a, which forms a pivotal bearing between these parts; whilethe other or forward end of said bedplate rests upon the forward pedestal A and is adapted to be raised therefrom by means of the pneumatic lift C. This lift is. comprised essentially of the cylinder 0, the plunger 0 operating therein, and the connecting rod 0 which suitably engages the end of said bed-plate A. On top of the bed- -plate, adjacent to the pivotal end thereof,

is mounted the wheel member support D; or, more accurately, the hub and rimsupport,- since the spoke is held by the spoke fastening devices, comprisingthe jaws B, and the in and outside heading tools B and B This wheel member support is comprised of the hub support d and the tire ring support al Theringcl is rotatively mountedupon the fixedbase ring d on the bed plate A, and is provided with the pawl engaging lugs d corresponding. in number with the number of spokes in each series of spokes in the wheel. The parts thus far described ares'ubstantially the same as set forth in the patent to which reference has already been made, and hence a detailed description thereof is here believed to be unnecessary.

It will be apparent from an inspection of the machine of my patent that in the operation thereof the operator is obliged to turn the tire support and wheel tire therein to proper position in securing in place the successive spokes, and it is the purpose of the present improvement to render such of the inclosing frame.

action automatic. To this end an automatic indexing device is mounted on the bed-plate A, adjacent and tangentially to the ring (P, in position to engage the lugs (Z thereof and intermittently rotate same a definite amount.

This indexing device is constructed as follows: On the bed-plate A is fixed, by means of bolts or otherwise, a guide 1, which dovetails into the bottom of the rack frame 2. The rack frame 2 is of a hollow rectangular shape, open above and open also, as shown at 2 in Fig. 1, on the side adjacent to the wheel rim support. The depending cheeks 2 on each side of the frame form the dovetailed'way in which fits the said guide, while over the top is bolted the cover plate 3. In Fig. 1 this cover plate is shown removed.

-lVithin the rack frame 2 are placed the two superposed reciprocating toothed racks, the upper rack being designated by the numeral 4,1and the lower one by 5. The lower one of these racks bears against the bottom and walls of the frame 2, while the upper one slides upon the lower one within said frame. Each rack l and 5 consists of a U-shaped body portion 4? and. 5 with a connecting bar 4? and 5 respectively, extending along the outer side thereof and connecting the ends of the legs on said body portion, thereby leaving the racks open in the middle. Theslots thus formed extend longitudinally On the inside of the slot in the rack t is formed the rack teethd while on the bar 5 outside the slot in the rack 5, is formed the series of rack teeth 5 In the frame 2 and cover 3, mid way of the length thereof, is fixed the vertical pin 6, which forms a journal bearing for the pinion 7 The said pinion 7 in length equals the thickness of the two racks 4 and 5, and is adapted to engage on its opposite sides the series of teeth 4L and 5 of said racks, so that movement of the pinion will impart longitudinal movement to the racks but in opposite directions.

Q On the rack frame 2, and formed preferably integral therewith, is a rearward extension 8 (see Figs. 1 and 6), on which is mounted a cylinder 9. A piston 10, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, operates in this cylinder and connects with the upper rack 4 by means of the connecting rod 11. The cylinder 9 is closed at both ends, hence the piston is double acting, and it is evident that movement of the piston 10 will effect a corresponding movement otthe upper rack in the same direction as the said piston, moves, and of the lower rack 5 in an opposite direction. Air is supplied to the cylinder9 through the supply pipe 12, and its admission is controlled by means of suitable 'valve mechanism (not shown) in the valve chest 13, the exhaust ,air escaping through the ports 13 in thevalve chest, as shown in Fig. 6. The manner of automatically actul l l ating the air admission valves and the mech anism relating thereto will be hereinafter considered.

In orhcr to impart movement to the tirc supporting ring (Z from the reciprocating racks l and 5, the pawls H and 1?), respectively, are pivotally mounted thereon, the pivotal axes thereof being tormcd, respectively, by the pins ll and 15. To provide a b iaring for both ends oi the pivotal axes H and 1.5, and to render the construction more compact, slots 10 are provided in the body portions l and 5 of the racks l and for the reception of said pawls 14; and If. These pawls are made to project from the racks l and 5 obliquely and inwardly, and extend in the same direction in such a manner as to enable them to engage with their head 17 the lugs (Z on the tire ring support The springs 17, which are secured to the racks t and 5, are so situated in the slots 16 as to bear against the pawls ll and 15 and hold them yieldingly in position to engage said lugs (Z but yet enable them to swing away from them as they slide over the adjacent lug in their return movement.

In Figs. 1 and lthe preterred form of pawl and pawl head 17 is illustrated, this head being reversible and provided with the lug engaging shoulder 17. As shown in these figures, the said head is to move the tire supporting ring (l in thc directirm indi'nted by the arrow in Fig. l, but it reversed, as shown in detail in Fig. 11, the said ring (P will be moved in a reverse direction. In the first instance the pawls l4 and 15 will advance the tire ring by pushing, but in the latter instance by pulling. It is well understood that in securing the spokes of a wheel to the rim and hub there of in a wheel having two series of spokes (one series at each end of the hub), in consequence of the spokes shortening in cooling. there is a tendency to pull the hub to a slightly eccentric position with respect to the rim. If the indexing device were made to advance the tire ring in the same direction in securing both series, the result would be a dra ing of the hub to a position in which its axis would be slightly inclined to the plane of the rim, but it the spokes are introduced in the same order in the second series and in the same dircction. then the axis of the hub will be kept perpendicular to the plane of the rim. This explains the necessity for providing a rcvcrsiblc indexing device. The reversible head 1'? is scoured to the pawls by means oi the screws 1 7 a shoulder 17 and corresponding mortise being provided in the two members to sccure the head against cndwisc movcnicnl. The distance between the engaging surtacc lT of the head 17 in its two diti crcnt posttions is just equal to the thickness oi? thc lugs (Z on the ring (1, so that the same lltl movement of the racks stand 5 will produce the same movement of the ring in either direction. This distance is indicated by the line 0 in Figs. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11.

In Fig. 9 is shown a modified form of pawl 14 the lug engaging shoulders m and n being formed on opposite sides of the end thereof, and hence when it is desired to re- As the pawls 14: and 15 operate to advance the tire ring (Z to position forthe securement of the succeeding spoke, it becomes necessary to hold the parts firmly'm place while the spoke is being secured to the other wheel members, and this is done by cooperating lugs on the racks 4 and 5,. Near the ends of said racks, and on the pawl sides thereof, there are formed laterally projecting shoulders, 011 the rack t the shoulders 4 and 4", and on the rack 5 the shoulders 5 and 5*. These shoulders are so arranged that they will abut the lugs (Z on'the tire ringd when the racks are; at the end of their stroke, the shoulders d and 5 engaging on opposite sides the said lug d v when the parts occupy the positionsshownin Fig.-

at. When the racks have moved to the opposite end of their stroke, then the shoulders 4* and 5 engage the lug, as shownin Fig. 1. These shoulders operate not only to'hold the wheel member support stationary, but also serve as stops to limitthe movement of said racks at the ends of their stroke. It is evident that if the pawls 14: and 15 are long enough to advance the tire' ring (Z an amount suflicient to enable the shmilder which approaches the lug d from the rear (the shoulder 45" in Fig. 1) to ei'igao'e said lug, then the coacting shoulders l", d and l 5" will operate not only to hold the parts in a fixed position, but will also ccnterthe ring d and wheel members thereon in a definite predetermined position.

If the spoke receiving apertures in the wheel members were always uniform and corresponded exactly with the lugs (Z on the tire ring (Z the pawls 1t and '15 and shoulders 4P, 4 and 5"-, 5 on theracks would always bring the wheel members to proper position; that is, to a position in which the spoke would aline with the stationary spoke fastening devices. Such uniformity does not prevail, however, and hence it becomes necessary to adjustthe indexing devices bodily, which is done by the following described mechanism: In the guide 1, at its front end, is fixed a threaded rod 18 (see Fig. 6) which projectsforwardly beyond the endof the rack frame 2. This rod engages a correspondingly threaded sleeve 19, which is held longitudinally fixed with respect. to the frame 2 within the bushing 20. This bushing is secured to the frame by any suitable means (not shown). The shoulder 19 on the sleeve 19 bears against the inside of said bushing, while the collar 20 of the hand wheel 20, by hearing against the outside of said bushing, prevents movement of same in the opposite direction. The collar 20 of said hand -wheel is received by the threaded portion must be actuated once each time a spoke is secured in place, and the means for controlling the admission of air will now be described: As formerly stated, the right-hand end of the table A, as viewed in Fig. 3, will be raised and lowered by the admission and escape of to and from the cylinder 0, said admission and. escape being effected by leans under the control of the operator.

The table carries the rim and hub supports, and as it is raised and lowered, will move the spoke,rim and hue to and from an operative position with respect to the spoke fastening devices, and this movement of the table is employed to automatically control the operation of the indexing device. A bell crank 21 is pivotally mounted on the bed-plate A, the horizontal arm thereof engaging the valve rod 22; while the vertical arm engages the long rod 23, which extends to the forward end of said bed-plate, the forward end of said rod connecting with the lower end of the pendent arm 24. The said rod 28 engages near its forward end the fixed collar 25, between which and the end of the rod is interposed the coil spring 26, this, spring operating to hold the rod forward and the bellerank 21 normally in the full line position shown in F ig. 3. The turn-buckle 23 in rod 23 permits of adjustment in length of said rod. On the bed-plate A, adjacent to the arm 24:, is mounted a cam wheel 27 adapted to engage a cam roller 28' mounted on the pendent arm 2-4. A ratchet wheel .29 is mounted on the same bearing with the cam wheel 27 and is in effect one piece therewith. A ratchet pawl 30 is pivotally mounted on the pedestal A? in a position to engage the ratchet wheel 29 as the table A is raised and lowered, the spring 31 holding said ratchet pawl in engagement with the ratchet wheel. The cam wheel 29 is provided with alternate roller-actuating surfaces 29 and 29 or dilterent distances from the center, in order to secure a different throw of bell crank 21 and hence admit air to alternate sides of the piston.

The operation of this valve actuating mechanism is as follows: Assuming the bedplate A in its lower or operative position,

as indicated by the full line in Fig. 3, the roller 28 will be seen to be resting on the lower cam surface 29, thus permitting the spring 26 to hold the bell crank 21 in the full line position shown, depressing the valve rod 22 and admitting air to one entlthe forward end, for instance of the cylinder. When the pneumatic lift 0 is caused to elevate the bed-plate A, moving it to the dotted line position of Fig. 3, and carrying the cam and ratchet wheels with it, the ratchet wheel 27 will engage the pawl 30 and be turned with the cam wheel one notch, thereby causing the roller 28 to ride onto a higher cam surface and force the bell crank 21 to its dotted line position, raising the valve rod 22 and admitting air to the rear end of the cylinder 9.

The operation of the indexing device is as follows: Assuming the wheel members to be properly placed in the wheel member support D, on the bed-plate A, and the spoire fastening devices to have completed their movement in securing the last spoke, the parts will then occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3. The forward end of the bed-plate is then raised about its pivotal axis a by the pneumatic lift C until the bedplate and parts thereon occupy the position shown by dotted lines in the same figure.

In this movement the cam wheel 27 will be rotated one notch by means of the pawl 30 and ratchet 29, thereby, through the pendent arm 24-, the roller 28, the long red 23 and the bell crank 21, actuating the valve mechanism which admits air to the cylinder 9. It the air has been admitted to the left-hand side of the piston, which is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the piston will more to the right-hand end of the cylinc er 9, as shown, pulling the upper rack 4 with it to the right, and simultaneously, through the pinion 7, moving the lower rack 5 to the left, so that, at the end of this movement, the racks will occupy the position indicated in Fig. 1. This movement is limited by the shoulder 4% on the upper rack l and the shoulder 5" on the lower rack 5 impinging the opposite sides of the lug (Z on the tire ring It the two shoulders at and 5* do not contactthe sides of the lug simultaneously, then, unless the pawls l t and 15 are too long, the said shoulders will operate to center the tire ring support (Z and cause the spoke which has previously been inserted in the spoke receiving apertures of the rim and hub to register with the stationary jaws of: the spoke fastening devices. In the movement last described the pawl M on the upper rack at operates to engage the lug (Z and ad *ance the tire ring (Z while the pawl if) on the lower rack 5 is retracted by the move ment in the opposite direction of the lower rack 5 and is brought to position to engage the next lug (Z on the succeeding stroke of the piston. In this manner the device is made double acting; that is, a stroke of the piston in either direction operates to advance the tire ring without the parts returning to position for a working stroke. It the device were only single acting. then every alternate charge of air would be wasted in returning the parts to position to start their next working stroke, and hence double the amount of air would be required to operate the device.

it, because 0t slightvariations or inaccuracies in the spoke receiving apertures of the hub and rim, the spoke which ms last inserted and not yet secured, does not register with the jaws after the racks 4: and 5 have completed their movement, the indexing device is adjusted bodily, as before dc scribed, by means of the hand wheel 28. By adjusting the device bodily, the shoulders 4t and 5' or at the other end oi its movement 4- and 5, will be made to bear tightly against the side of the lug (l and hold the rim support in place through the air pressure against the piston '10. Such bodily adjustment is not ordinarily nccessary. litter the spoke which is about to be secured to the rim and hub ha, been brought to a position vertically coincident with the spoke fastening jaws B, the operator *auses the bed-plate A. to drop in order to bring the spoke to a position where it can be gripped by the jaws. In this movement the. ratchet wheel. 2t) will drop from the dotted to the full line position in Fig. 3, the pawl 30 yielding in such movement. Atter the spoke has been secured in place the pneumatic lift C is again made to raise the bedplate, which will automatically actuate the indexing device again, ad umcing the tire ring to position for the next spoke, and the operation thus continues.

in the patent to which reference has been made the table is shown to be stationary and the spoke fastening devices raised and lowered to the spoke. This does not affect the principle of the operation, however, since the valve actuating mechanism on the index ing device could be controlled by the movementof the spoke fastening devices equally as well as by the movement of the bed-plate, upon which is placed the wheel member sup ports.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a. wheel machine, and in combination with the wheel rim support thereof, an automatic and reversible indexing device adapted to impart adefinite angular movement to said wheel rim support, substantially as and for the purpose specified,

2. In a wheel machine, and in combinationwith the Wheel rim support thereof, a bodily adjustable indexing ,device adapted to impart a definite angular movement to said wheel rim support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In a wheel machine, and in combination with the wheel rim support thereof,-a double acting and reversible indexing device adapted to impart a definite angular movement to the w reel rim support thereof, substantially as and for the purpose speci lied.

bed-plate, a wheel rim and hub support mounted thereon, spoke fastening devices, means for raising and lowering said bedplate to and from an operative position with respect to said spoke fastening devices, an indexing device adapted to impart a definite angular movement'to the wheel rim support, and means actuated by the raising and lowering of the bed-plate for controlling the movement of said indexing device.

53. in a wheel machine, in combination, a bed-plate, a wheel rim and hub support mounted thereon, spoke fastening devices, means for raising and lowering said bedplate to and from an operative position with respect to said spoke fastening devices, an indexing device adapted to impart a definite angular movement to the rim support, and controlling mechanism for the indexing device comprising a ratchet and cam wheel mounted on the bed-plate, a pawl mounted on a stationary portion of the machine, and an operative connection extending between said cam wheel and indexing device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a wheel machine, and in combination with the wheel rim support thereof, an automatic indexing device comprising mechanism for imparting a definiteangular movement to said wheel rim support, and stops to limit the movement of said mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose,

specified.

7. in a wheel machine, and in combination with the wheel rim support thereof, an automatic indexing device comprising mechanism for imparting a definite angular movement to said wheel rim support, and single means serving both as stops to limit the movement of said mechanism and also operating to center and'retain in a fixed position the said wheel rim support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a wheel. machine, and in combination with the wheel rim support thereof, an

indexing device comprising two longitudi- -l-. In a wheel machine, in combination, a

nally reciprocating, toothed racks, means for simultaneously imparting movement to both racks in opposite directions, and a pawl mounted on each rack and adapted to alternately engage and advance the said wheel rim support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. In a wheel machine, and in combination with the rim support thereof, an indexing device comprising two longitudinally reciprocating, toothed racks, single means for imparting simultaneous movement to both racks, and a pawl mounted on each rack and adapted to alternately engage the said wheel rim support and impart a definite angular movement thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In a wheel machine, in combination, a wheel rim support, lugs formed on the periphery thereof, and an indexing device for intermittently advancing. said wheel rim support for the securement of the successive spokes to the wheel members, said device comprising a rack frame, two superposed toothed racks operating therein, a reversibly acting pawl mounted on each of said racks and adapted to engage the lugs on said wheel rim support, coacting shoulders formed on said racks and adapted to also engage the said lugs, thereby centering and holding the said support fixed, and means for imparting simultaneous movement in opposite directions to both. racks, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a wheel machine, in combination, a wheel rim support, lugs formed on the periphery thereof, and an indexing device for intermittently advancing said wheel rim support for the securement of the successive spokes to the wheel members, said device comprising a bodily adjustable rack frame, two superposed slotted, toothed racks oper' ating therein, a pawl mounted on each of said racks and adapted to engage the lugs on said wheel rim support, a shoulder formed on each end of each rack, the shoulder on the end of one rack coacting with the shoulder on the opposite end of the other rack to engage the successive lugs on said wheel rim support to center and hold same, and means for imparting simultaneous movement in opposite directions to said racks, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. In a wheel machine, in combination, a bed-plate, a tire ring rotatably mounted thereon with lugs formed on the periphery thereof, a guide fixed on said bedplate, a rack frame slidably mounted on said guide,

'means for adjusting the position of the the teeth of the slot in the lower rack lying i on the side opposite to those in the upper t rack, a pinion mounted in said rack frame Within the slots of said racks and adapted to engage with its opposite sides the teeth along the sides of the slots, a pawl provided with a reversible head and mounted on each of said racks and adapted to engage the lugs on said Wheel rim support, coacting shoulders formed on said racks and arranged to engage the said lugs, thereby centering and holding the said tire ring fixed, a cylinder and piston with suitable connection with one of said racks for imparting a reciprocating motion thereto, and a cam having a pawl and ratchet mechanism operated by a moving part of the machine, for controlling the admission of air to said cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

CHRIS BOllG.

Witnesses 2 CARL E. KIBBin, O. A. ANDERSON. 

